Name: Musks Starlink helps Iranians skirt internet blackout, sources say
Uploaded: 2026-01-13T13:45:05.963Z
Duration: 3 min
Description: Some Iranians are still using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service despite a nationwide communications blackout, three people inside the country said, the latest example of Starlink being used to counter internet shutdowns in geopolitical flashpoints.

Some Iranians are still using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service despite a nationwide communications blackout, three people inside the country said, the latest example of Starlink being used to counter internet shutdowns in geopolitical flashpoints.

Tehran

Iran has experienced a widespread internet blackout as authorities respond to ongoing nationwide protests, with nearly all fiber and mobile networks cut since January 8. According to internet monitoring group NetBlock, non-satellite connectivity has dropped to just 1 percent of normal levels, leaving around 90 million people without regular internet access.

Despite the ban, some Iranians have managed to stay online using Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service, which beams internet from low-Earth orbit satellites. Experts note that Starlink's design makes it difficult for the Iranian government to completely block the service. While Starlink is not licensed in Iran and its use is subject to severe penalties, about 100 terminals were reportedly active in the country as of late 2022.

Musk's Starlink helps Iranians skirt internet blackout, sources say

Iran faces an Internet blackout as authorities crack down on nationwide protests. The blackout began on January 8, cutting off nearly all fiber and mobile networks. Internet monitoring group NetBlock says non-satellite connectivity is at just 1 percent of normal levels. Yet some Iranians are still finding ways to stay online, thanks to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service, which beams Internet from thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites and remains active in some areas despite being banned. Here's Britain-based cyber espionage investigator Narman Garib. The information we are getting is very limited to what we expected because of the Internet shutdown. But this Internet shutdown is crazy. Just 90 million people actually lost Internet connection for several days now. You can't actually have no Internet connection for 10 minutes, you go mad. So imagine 90 million people across Iran for more than three days, they don't have Internet. Garib says Starlink's design makes it hard to block, even for the Iranian regime. There are many questions around Starlink, but what's clear is that this technology has been able to carry the voice of the Iranian people during the Internet blackout. Because Starlink has many satellites, they can't actually go and hit one satellite from inside Iran. They need to actually do it locally, which means that they are not cutting off the service completely. So it's very difficult for the Iranian regime to disrupt the service completely. U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he plans to speak with Musk about restoring Internet in Tehran. Garib believes a direct-to-cell satellite service could be a game changer. President Trump declares an emergency regarding Iran, and he talks to FCC. And Elon Musk, who has also stood with the Iranian people in the past and also now, can activate this service for Iran. I think this solution will turn around everything, and the people will overthrow the regime more sooner than anyone expects. As protests continue, the battle over connectivity underscores how technology like Starlink is shaping global conflicts, giving Iranians a lifeline to the outside world. They could communicate freely, organize, share what's happening with the world, and access uncensored information, all from satellite, which is giving the signals to the Iranian phones, actually. They already have it in their pockets. So the regime's main tool of repression has always been silencing the people. I believe this technology takes that power away from them. Starlink isn't licensed to operate in Iran, and parliament has banned its use with severe penalties. Elon Musk has previously said the service is active there, with about 100 terminals as of late 2022, a modest figure for a country of 92 million.

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